Midlothian takes pride in small-town values

Southwest suburban Midlothian's streets are lined with trees and a mix of houses with some dating back to the 1900s.

Southwest suburban Midlothian's streets are lined with trees and a mix of houses with some dating back to the 1900s. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Janice NeumannSpecial to the Tribune

Chuck Enk has a knack for spotting newcomers on his friendly tree-lined block because they're usually the ones not chatting with passersby. In typical Midlothianite fashion, he soon fixes that.

"What we do is go up and talk to them and welcome them. It changes their attitude," said Enk, who moved to the southwest suburb with wife Eunice in 1970 and raised two daughters here.

Like many residents, the Enks chose Midlothian because of its affordable homes and accessibility to Chicago and surrounding suburbs. But what they cherish is the down-home atmosphere, camaraderie and several long-time eateries, stores and other community institutions.

The couple enjoys eating at Keystone Cafe, where you can find a hearty meal for under $10, and Hog Wild, a burger and hot dog joint.

"You would almost say the Keystone is the meeting grounds for everyone in the village. As soon as you walk in there, there's somebody you're going to know," said Enk.

On Thanksgiving, the long-time owners of the cafe, brothers John and Tim Antonotoulous and their uncle, Spiro Antonotoulous, serve free meals to seniors, people with disabilities and the needy.

"Everybody's going out of their way to help everybody," said John Antonotoulous.

Not that the housing and accessibility aren't greatly appreciated in this village of about 14,300.

Midlothian is accessible by Interstate Highways 294, 57 and 80, has a Metra Station on 147th Street near the center of town and several Pace buses that run from Midway or surrounding suburbs.

"There's such a wide mix of homes with a lot built as early as the early 1900s and newer sections developed over the past 10 to 15 years. In my opinion, it's very similar to the old Chicago neighborhoods where you cannot see one home that is identical," said Jim Dace, broker/owner of Harthside Realtors in Midlothian, who grew up in the village but lives in Orland Park.

Dace said while homes were "pulling top dollar" several years ago, now you can find a three-bedroom house for $150,000 and other homes for up to $400,000. There are also apartments, town homes and condos.

"It's always been a nice middle-priced town, not on the high end. It's a town where the kids grow up and end up buying a house in town," said Dace.

When Russ and Angie Fratto were looking for an affordable home close to expressways in 2001, they chose a reasonably-priced three-bedroom ranch close to the train station, parks and grocery store. Russ Fratto, who manages Harris Bank in Midlothian, says they also enjoy Midlothian's rural feel.

"There's walking trails, we're surrounded by forest preserves, so it's a very wooded, sort of scenic area," he said.

Terry Stephens, who became village president in May, is typical of residents. He grew up in Midlothian, stayed to raise three kids with his wife, Diane, and has been a science teacher at Bremen High School for the past 25 years and a trustee for 26. Many residents either grew up with him or have had kids in his classes.

One of Stephens' goals has been to spur economic development in a village that has seen its share of vacant storefronts along 147th Street, its main retail strip. Stephens has re-activated the economic development committee to work with existing businesses and attract new ones. Midlothian received $140,000 in grants from the Regional Transportation Authority in 2007 to create a transit-centered development around its Metra station.

But the weak economy has hampered redevelopment. Also, parts of the site are in a flood plain, though village officials have been talking with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District officials about that issue.

On the bright side, Malecky Builders of Oak Forest is planning a four-unit town home development a block from the station, with homes priced from $150,000 to $160,000.

"You'd like to say it's [development] going to happen right away but you can't. We're creating an environment for people to make money but, as you know, you have to have money to make money," said Stephens, adding he hoped the downtown could eventually become "a jewel of our community."

With the loss of sales tax dollars from three car dealerships that closed this year, the village had to forgo its bus service for residents and September Scottish Fair and Celtic Celebration. Village trustees and Stephens have also forgone portions of their salaries, and employees have agreed to take furlough days.

Sottrel Hotel Group Inc. of Franklin Park is planning to build a $4.5 million, 35-suite luxury hotel on the southwest corner of 144th Street and Cicero Avenue in 2010. Village officials hope the development will help attract retail and restaurants.

Developer Frank Sottrel said he chose Midlothian because of its recognizable Cicero Avenue, accessibility to expressways and sense of community pride.

The village also has two grocery stores, drug stores and some popular long-time businesses, such as Midlothian Midwest Super Market, which offers fresh meats and where owner Abe Fino makes his own sausages.

Schools include Midlothian School District 143 for grades K-8, Bremen High School District 228 and St. Christopher Catholic School, which offers preschool through eighth grade. Residents generally say they are happy with the education their children receive.

While property crimes, vandalism and identity theft are a problem, the village this year started a community policing committee to raise safety awareness.

"We want to make the community more aware of what's going on and in the event we do have a situation, we want to bring it to their attention to help us help them," said Police Chief Vince Schavone.

Recreation venues are plentiful, from walks in the forest preserves to seven parks, some with walking trails, sports fields, volleyball courts, playgrounds and native plantings. There is also an outdoor adult pool, children's pool and kiddie pool as well as a recreation center with a gym, preschool program and fitness, ballet and crafts classes.

The Midlothian Country Club, with its golf course, clubhouse and outdoor pool, is the village's namesake. The club was established by George R. Thorne, John G. Shedd, R.H. Donnelly and other Chicago business leaders, who wanted the spot for a golf course.

The club opened in 1898 and was named Midlothian because of golf's Scottish roots and Sir Walter Scott's novel, "The Heart of Midlothian." The village was incorporated in 1927.

The Midlothian Historical Society proudly displays the village's history with newspaper clippings and photographs dating back to the early 1900s and Scottish banners and plates. The building at 147th Street and Springfield Avenue was originally a one-room schoolhouse and then the public library. President Lori Taylor, who is also editor of the Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers in Midlothian, and six board members, oversee the exhibits.

"It was a nice, quiet town," said Rey Carlberg, one of the board members, as he reminisced about the village's history and his reasons for settling there with his wife, Mavis, 57 years ago. "To me, it's never really changed."